Uganda's top female referee, Shamirah Nabadda, has added another milestone to her rapidly rising career after being selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
The tournament, featuring 24 teams, will be held from September 5 to 27, with Nabadda named among the 18 centre referees selected from across the globe.
Her latest appointment comes barely a year after she was named the 2025 CAF Women's Referee of the Year, further cementing her status among Africa's elite match officials.
Nabadda is one of three officials from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) appointed for the global showpiece. Burundi's Fides Bangurambona will serve as an assistant referee, while Rwanda's Salina Mukansanga has been selected as a Video Match Official.
CECAFA Head of Refereeing Ali Ahmed welcomed the appointments, saying they reflect the region's growing standards in football officiating.
"Having the three officials picked means a lot to the Zone because they will also be flying the CECAFA flag," Ahmed said.
The FIFA appointment marks another landmark achievement in what has become a remarkable refereeing journey for the Ugandan official.
Last year, Nabadda was among three Ugandan referees selected by CAF to officiate at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Throughout the tournament, she earned praise for her calm decision-making, consistency and effective game management.
Her growing résumé also includes appointments at the CAF Women's Champions League, the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Olympic qualifiers and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In 2024, the 29-year-old made history by becoming the first Ugandan female referee to officiate at the Olympic Games during the Paris Olympics, a breakthrough that elevated Uganda's profile on the international refereeing stage.
Africa will also have a strong presence at the tournament through its participating teams, with Benin, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
